Bumper for automobiles



Dec. 4 1923. l,476,382

J. TURNER ET AL BUMPER FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. 10,- 1923 -2Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 4 1923.

J. TURNER ET AL BUMPER FOR AUToMoBILEs Filed Jan. 10 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet2 .lil-:5,

of Clark and State of Fatented Dec. 4, 1923.

UNITED STATES JAMES TURNEB AND PEARL IP. CRABILL, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

IBUMPEB FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application med January 10, 1923. smal no. 611,712.

To all whomt may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMEs TURNER and Parini, P. CRABILL, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Sprin field, in the county hio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Bumpers for Automobiles,of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in bumpers for automobiles.

One of the objects of our invention is 'to provide an improvedconstruction of double rail; a more specific object in this connectionbein to provide a novel means for connecting the rails together andspacing same apart.

' A further object of our invention is to provide a simple and effectivearrangement for Supporting the bumper rails from the vehicle; a morespecific object in this connection being to provide an improved form ofbracket capable of being connected to both the frame and spring bolt andso arranged that it can be adjusted to support the bumper rails in theproper horizontal position, and also adjnsted to avoid such parts asrivets and bolts in the frame members and also to accommodate itself tosnubbers, shock absorbere, splash pans or other appliances which areattached to the frame members.v

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the forward end of a motor vehicle showingour improved bumper applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a front view of th'e bumper.

Fig. 3 is a top plan reiv of a portion of the bumper showing amodification.

Fig. 4 is also a top plan of a portion of the bumper showing a furthermodification.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of F ig. 9.

FFig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig-7 is a section on the line7--7 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the Supporting brackets.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the Supporting bracket with the member towhich it is attached at its forward end shown in section.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a modified form of Supportingbracket.

Referring to the drawi gs. 1 and 2 represent a pair of bumper r .ils orbars formed of flat spring metal l`.'ranged in vertical alignrnent with'each other and also in spacedapart relation. The free ends of thesebars are curved slightly rearwardly and are each formed with an eye 3,adjacent eyes being adapted to receive a bolt -1 by which the rails arefirmly connected together; spacing sleeves 5 being placed about thebolts between adjacent eyes 3 so as to hold the rails 1 and 2 in properspaced relation (see Fig. 7 for detail).

The rails 1 and 2 are connected to an intermediate member 6 formed offlat spring metal having its ends curved, with the extreme portions 6'thereof extending in parallel relation with the main portion 6. The bars1 and 2 are connected with the portions 6' of the intermediate member bya pair of clamps. Each of these clamps, as shown in Fig. 6, is formed oftwo members, a forward member T and a rear member 8. The forward memberhas top and bottom flanges 9 and a central horizontal rib 10 whichcooperates with the fianges to form top andbottom channels which receivethe rails 1 and 2. while the rear clamping member is formed with' ahorizontal channel 11 which receives the parts 6' of the intermediatemember. A bolt 12 secures the two clamping members together.

In F igs. 3 and 4 a modification isshown in the form of the intermediateSupporting member in which case this member is formed of two separateparts (3", each part having its end curved and connected to the rails 1and 2 exactly in the same manner as described.

The bumper thus formed is connected with the vehicle frame by a pair ofbracket members. Each of these bracket members is constructed asfollows: A horizontal portion 13 has at one end a short rearwardly anddownwardly extending arm 14 and at the other end a short rearwardlyprojecting arm 15 to which is connected a separate arm 16, the forwardand rear parts of which are laterally offset as shown. The' horizontalportion 13 is secured to the intermediate member 6 by a U-shaped clamp17 having its free ends drawn together by bolts 18. The rear end of thearm 14 is connected to the frame through the medium of the spring bolt19. The arm 16 is adjustably connected to the arm 15 b v the bolt 20.the arm 16 being provided with a pair of orifices 21 each adapted toreceive this bolt so that the attachment consisting of the two arms 15and 16 ma;7 be shortened or lengthened as desired. The rear end of thearm 16 is connected to the channel frame member 22 by a bolt 23 having ahoolt-shaped fiattened end 24 which engageg the lower flange of theframe member 22 and a wedge member 25 loosely sleeved on the bolt toeng-age the under surface of the lower fiange of the frame and also theouter surface of the central vertical web thereof, the member '25 havinga vertical bifurcated integral flange 26 for this latter purpose. Therear end of the arm 16 is clamped against the member 25 and its flange26 by the nut 27, a spacing washer :28 and a spring lock washer :29being preferabl)v inserted between the nut and arm.

In Fig. 10 there is shown a modification. In this case the horizontalportion indicated at 13' terminates substantiallv flush with the innerend of the clip, indicated at 17', and is provided with but a singlerearwardl v projecting arm 11' which corresponds to the arm 14previousl)v described. The clip 17' is formed with an integralrearwardlvextending ear 30 perforated to receive the bolt 20 Whichconnects thereto an arm, shown in dotted lines at 16', which correspondsto the arm 16 previously described.

By this arrangement of bracket it will be seen. that the parts may beadjusted relatively to each other so as to permit the bumper rails to beraised or lowered to bring them in proper position relatively to theWheel base of the vehicle and the arm 16 'may also be adjustablyattached to the arm 15 or ear 30, as the case may be, to permit theavoidance of rivets, bolts, snubbers, shock absorbers. splash` pans orother parts by enabling the clamping bolt 23 and its wedge to be appliedto the frame at different points in its length and to also enable thearm 16 to be attached to the arm 15 either in the manner shown inFig. 1. or in the manner shown in Fig. 3 or Fig. 4.

Having thus described our invention. we claim:

1. In a. bumper, a pair of spaced-apart impact rails arranged inparallel relation and their length, means for securing adjacent ends ofsaid rails together, a bracket member secured to each side of a motorvehicle, and intermediate connecting means secured to said brackets,said Connecting means being bent forwardly and having the bent .portionsthereof arranged parallel with and clamped to said impact rails atpoints removed from their ends.

In a bumper, a pair of resilient spacedapart impact bars arranged inparallel relation and vertical alignment throughout their length. meansfor spacing apart and rigidly Connecting their extreme adjacent ends` anintermediate member having bent ends lhving parallel with the rear sideof Said impact bars at points removed from their ends, and clamps forsecuring said bent ends to said impact bars.

4. In an automobile buInper, a bumper member, a bracket for securingsaid bumper member to the vehicle comprising a clamping member and apair of arms, one projecting rearwardly at each end of the clampingmember, one of said arms being arranged to be clamped to the springbolt, and a bar connected to the other of said arms, together with meansfor clamping said bar to the vehicle frame, said bar and'its Companionarm being arranged to be fastened together at different points in thelength of said bar to permit said bar to be clamped to said frame atdifferent points.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this .th day ofJanuary, 1923.

.IAHES TURNER. PEARL P. CRABILL.

